The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is proud to present the second-year student ensemble show, titled Behind the Veil, directed by Kate Fryer, showing 15 – 19 September at NICA’s National Circus Centre in Prahran.
Welcome to a world where perfection is manufactured, productivity is worshipped, individuality has become a dangerous defect, and every smile has been carefully rehearsed.
Behind the Veil questions the hierarchies and structures within society through the world of a kooky circus ensemble, where breathtaking physical feats collide with dark satire. Every movement is synchronised, everybody is optimised, and every mistake is unacceptable.
As the mechanisms of this perfectly engineered existence begin to fail, performers reclaim something far more dangerous than perfection: choice and freedom
Behind the Veil is directed by Kate Fryer, a respected performer, director, teacher and writer of circus and physical theatre, with nearly 30 years of experience. The Artistic Director of Dislocate and Circus Director for the State Schools Spectacular, she has also directed works for Circus Oz, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Women’s Circus, The Sydney and London Olympics, and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, as well as individual circus acts and curated cabarets and parades across the globe.
This collaboration between Fryer and NICA’s versatile second-year ensemb
le, is shaping up to be a highly anticipated breakthrough performance for the cohort, who will be showcasing their talents on Chinese pole, swinging trapeze, flying silks, Cyr wheel, handstands, contortion, acrobatics, and more.
Exciting, talented, and quirky: this ensemble is crafting an absurd, yet familiar world to question humanities eccentricities – spectacularly embodied through circus
“If Metropolis, Brazil, and The Stepford Wives had a circus baby… this would be it.” says Fryer.
This production is supported by a wonderful Creative Team: Costume Design by Reuben James (Velvet Inferno, directed by Craig Ilott, 2026) with wardrobe assistance from Melbourne Polytechnic Costume Design students; Lighting Design by Eduard Inglés (Homer Prepares to Sing the Odyssey, Redfinch, 2026); and Sound Design by Christopher Lewis (Here There & Everywhere, Circus Oz, 2026).
September 16 – 19
